Reflecting on the Majesty and Glory of the Triune God – Sabbath Devotional – December 29, 2023
It was very saddening and disappointing to read the advice given to a new believer on a recent IG post. The majority did not speak about God’s love, majesty, power, grace, and abundant mercies. Instead, they gave many warnings about Satan’s power.
Ephesians chapter 6 tells us that spiritual warfare is real and we must stay faithful and armor ourselves through prayer and studying the word of God. Still, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with countless examples of God’s love and divine intervention for those created in His image.
Has Christianity declined to the point that our focus is on Satan and the fear of spiritual warfare instead of the love and Omnipotence of God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit?
We should never give credence to any power in heaven or earth above the Triune God. If so, we are not fully committed to God and need a revival of our love for Christ. As believers, we face constant battles [internal and external], which is the reason the Apostle Paul emphasized putting on the full armor of God along with maintaining unity and fellowship in the Christian community.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
We hear and share a lot of non-essential information. Nothing compares to the gospel message of Jesus Christ. By witnessing, we can fight against the trending belief that Satan is more powerful than God. Witnessing is easily accomplished with the use of technology. Use social media to share Scriptures revealing God’s powerful love and faithfulness to humanity.
Many who are desperately seeking peace have not heard the message of a loving and powerful Savior who specializes in new beginnings. Living in perilous times requires that we also think of those who are living hopelessly in this dark world. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:2-3
How well do you know God’s character? We will lose interest in God if we only have a minimal understanding of Him. From dedicating time to studying the Scriptures, God becomes real to us. The Holy Spirit, our Teacher, gives us a deeper understanding of God’s power and majesty, as well as the spiritual strength to live a holy life.
Our preparation for eternal life begins in our earthly lives. Worshiping God is the reason we were created. We serve a loving Father who patiently waits to commune with us. Persevere in prayer! Let your prayers be specific—pray for guidance, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit.
With faithful dedication, you will rejoice in your experiential knowledge of an awesome God to whom you will readily give all of your honor, glory, and praise, and share His goodness with others.
Prayer: God, we pray for a revival in our hearts so we will have the desire to seek and abide in You. We ask You to reveal Your plan and give us guidance in using our spiritual gifts to witness. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Jesus Makes a Difference in Our Lives – Today’s Devotional – December 27, 2023
The pastor’s question, “Does your heart belong to Jesus?” was not rhetorical, yet the congregation remained quiet. Not one person responded with an affirmative answer. He then stated, “I expected to hear a resounding Amen to that question.”
“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin…” —Romans 6:12-13
Documentaries have always been my absolute favorite. I enjoy learning about different cultures and ways of life around the world. My interest was piqued by the previews of a particular documentary that focused on amazing homes throughout the world built by indigenous persons.
The first hour was amazing—the creativity and skills revealed men and women using natural materials to build structurally sound homes that rivaled many of the proven architectural concepts. But halfway through the documentary, the content shifted from exploring different types of homes to an in-depth explanation of how one can enter the spirit world and worship the spirits of deceased ancestors.
I had a decision to make, would I ignore the discussion of pagan practices and continue watching the program?
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” —Proverbs 4:23, NLT
All stimuli that we embrace through our eyes and ears impact our morals, values, and most importantly our relationship with Christ. Satan always appeals to our senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch to pull us into sinful activities. Striving to live holy is a challenge we face every day. Do not make your life harder by embracing worldviews and habits that are not easily forgotten.
The Old Testament documents the inner struggle of the Israelites who were mesmerized by the sensuality of paganism. Sadly, the chosen people who cried out to God for deliverance from Egyptian bondage never let go of idol worship. Due to a history of wilful disobedience, God only granted Joshua and Caleb from that generation and those who were under the age of 20 to enter the Promised Land.
Today’s idols are not wooden statutes nor would most Christians ever consider an in-person visit to a pagan church, yet modern Christians have more idols than documented in the Bible. Our money, jobs, relationships, entertainment, pursuit of desires and goals, and the use of our time are dedicated to pleasing ourselves.
Yet, we worship technology! Families no longer communicate with each other or enjoy meals together because everyone is on their devices. Advanced technology along with social media has pulled many Christians into embracing the corrupt content of popular programs, games, and online worldly conversations. Whether in ancient or modern times, idols still accomplish the same purpose—to separate us from God.
None are exempt from the influence and desensitization by the worldviews, violence, and greed that are an accepted way of life. Guarding our hearts [minds], eyes, ears, and spoken words every day is a tough assignment. Our activities will either draw us closer to Christ, or we will live as once-a-week Christians, attending church but never having a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ because of our misaligned habits.
Reflection: The answer to “Does my heart belong to Jesus?” is revealed by our decisions, actions, and lifestyles. We may be perplexed about many things, but we know whether or not our hearts belong to Jesus.
Old Testament: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Deuteronomy 6:5
New Testament: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ” —Matthew 22:37
How can we understand Agape love? 1 Corinthians 13 is the Love Chapter from God’s heart to our hearts. For us to surrender our hearts to Christ, we must love as Jesus loves God, His Father, and fallen humanity. Surrender requires faith! Once we consecrate ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to understand the magnitude of Jesus’ Righteous Love.
David prayed often for God to search his heart and reveal all wickedness. Much prayer is needed daily for our hearts to remain connected to Christ. Whether your prayers are silent or audible, talk to Jesus throughout your day. With the innumerable distractions we face, building a relationship with Christ requires steadfast dedication and great communication. We can never pray too much.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” —Philippians 4:8
The Bible reveals God’s great love for humanity. Most of the stories of God’s Divine intervention are in the Old Testament. The books of Joshua and Judges reveal that we serve a Warrior God. Yes, our Defender empowered a fickle people to win seemingly impossible battles against the massive armies of pagan kings. Although the children of Israel had a track record of disobedience, God revealed His tender heart when they repented of their sins by giving them victorious outcomes.
The Love and Life of Christ
The Four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give four perspectives of Jesus’ earthly life. His Righteous Character impacted and changed the hearts of these men whose minds were focused on who would be the greatest. From studying the Scriptures, we learn our Savior’s character—His life demonstrated love, grace, and compassion that no human being will ever possess, still, we can strive to become Christ-like in our characters and temperaments.
Certainly, if we took the time to learn who Jesus is, and love Him, we would surrender our hearts to the One who says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly [humble] in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13
Internal Spiritual Transformation is Always Silent
Yes, Jesus makes a difference in our lives! When our hearts belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome the temptations of sinful pleasures. We love, think, and act differently because we are being transformed from the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us the Divine strength needed to change our character and habits.
Christ’s Love Removes the Stains of Our Sins. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Prayer: Jesus, we love You and thank You for Your amazing love. We invite You into our hearts and ask You to change us into Your likeness. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Let Jesus Be the Reason for Your Life – Today’s Devotional – December 24, 2023
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” —Philippians 2:8
Jesus was born in a barn and for His first bed, He was lovingly placed by Mary into a feeding trough. Throughout His life, Jesus maintained the same humility. No home to call His own, our Savior lived to serve humanity. Yes, during His ministry, Jesus was homeless. Though guiltless, He obeyed His Heavenly Father and drank from the cup of sorrow [death], so we would not have to suffer the second and final death.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” —James 4:10
Humility is the posture we take in surrendering our thoughts and ways to seek God’s direction. If we seek and abide in Christ, we are the recipients of His promises to give us abundant spiritual blessings. Yet, in His loving mercies, we do not have to be homeless or hungry because Christ has promised to supply all of our needs [Matthew 6:25-34].
Just as God required faithful obedience from His only Son, Jesus, we must also be willing to drink from the cup of sorrow every day by surrendering our will to God. Only then can we be led by the Holy Spirit to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness that leads us from our earthly journey to our forever heavenly home. Let Jesus be the reason for every season in your earthly life.
Prayer: Jesus, we are in awe of Your great love and sacrifice. We ask for the strength to dismiss our desires and to surrender willingly to Your perfect plans. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.
The Hardest Decision—Trusting God Today’s Devotional December 22, 2023
Recently I listened to a sermon entitled “Trusting God.” The pastor stated, “Trusting God with your life is the hardest decision that you will ever make in your lifetime.” Daily surrender to the unseen God requires faith!
Although we study the Bible and gain intellectual knowledge, knowledge does not increase our faith in God. The trials and hardships that pop up and change our peaceful lives into a dark storm are allowed so we can redirect our focus to God. I had to accept that although I know that God is powerful from the diligent study of the Bible [especially the Old Testament stories], my promise to trust Him with my life wasn’t genuine.
How could I get past this major stumbling block? I recall watching an Instagram reel from a psychologist who promotes speaking positive affirmations out loud. An example, “I am going to have a great day” needs to be spoken as soon as you awaken and throughout your day. Okay, I agree that our spoken words are powerful, but would affirmations be effective in building my faith and trust in God?
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33
Jesus forewarned us that life’s troubles are guaranteed. Yet we do not have to face our challenges alone. Faith is the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. Distrust in God is a result of self-reliance. At some point, we will face a dilemma that is unresolvable by human effort. When our best fails, we become discouraged and our little faith plummets into non-existence.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3, NIV
Without steadfast faith, our emotions will escalate and we will find ourselves in the abyss of hopelessness. Even when all is well, if we establish the habit of including God in life’s normal routines, we will immediately pray and ask for His Divine Intervention when we face the giant trials and lingering tribulations.
Build your faith in God! Choose a scriptural promise, memorize it, and speak it over your life every day. Pray a prayer of affirmation and gratitude to accompany your chosen Scripture.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27
I am sharing my personal “Trust God” prayer affirmation that I speak a few times a day to help build my faith.
Prayer Affirmation: “God, I know that nothing is too hard for You. And I know that You have wonderful plans for my life. I am asking You to resolve this challenge and to give me the strength to persevere. I thank You for already working everything out for my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
God knows our hearts. Pray an honest prayer. There is no pretense with God, He knows our anxieties, fears, and worries. Separate yourself and pray to God in secret. Most of our prayers should only be heard by God. Although our faith is the size of a mustard seed, committing to trust God is a giant leap of faith that acts as a catalyst to build our faith and trust in God.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, you, God, will not despise. —Psalm 51:17, NIV
It is the prayers of the weak that God honors and readily answers. Only those who admit they desperately need God will trust Him with their lives. The pure in heart receives strength from the Holy Spirit who gives us spiritual understanding of the power and majesty of God. Yes, relying on Divine Intervention has its perks—we are the recipients of Jesus’ gift of peace.
With determination, we make the choice to place our lives in God’s Righteous Hands. Prayers that declare trust in God move His arms to pour out blessings upon blessings—peace, joy, happiness, and the endurance to keep moving forward.
When we put our trust in God, we can live a life free from the burden of dealing with the consequences of our thoughts. It’s a liberating feeling to know that we have the Highest power in the Universe to depend on, our God who guides us through life’s challenges and gives us the only solution. So, let’s keep our faith strong and stay positive!
Prayer: Thank You God for Your Great love and faithfulness. We admit that our faith is weak. Yet we are striving to build our trust by placing our lives in Your hands. We ask You to lead us on the Path of Righteousness from earth to heaven. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.
Never an Unanswered Call with God -Today’s Devotional – December 20, 2023
Have you ever desired to speak with a friend or loved one, but they enjoy texting? Unanswered calls are a primary source of causing the caller to feel defeated. Caller ID allows the recipient to look at the name and number, silence their ringer, or respond with a pre-populated message. The desire for human interaction, coupled with love and empathy, has significantly decreased in the last five years.
“Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a Harvard-trained clinical psychologist based in New York City, says people tend to text or email instead of calling because of convenience…” “33% of American adults prefer texts to all other forms of communication. (Pew Research Center) (Tweet this!). Text is the most used form of communication for American adults under 50.”
God to the Rescue: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15). “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
Prayer is underutilized. Many believers do not understand the importance of prayer nor do they comprehend that prayer is our connection from earth to heaven. Prayer is for the renewal, restoration, and recovery of our mind, body, and soul from the harshness of daily life.
Even at work, we should find a quiet place to whisper a prayer for clarity, wisdom, and strength. Silently pray throughout your waking hours expressing gratitude for God’s faithfulness and Divine Intervention in your life. Prayer increases our dependency on God. We have peace, joy, and happiness because we are aligned with His perfect will and plans for our lives.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
We posture ourselves to invite the presence of God into our personal worship by separating ourselves from others and giving God time to respond. Our prayers are expedited to Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor by the Holy Spirit. It is indeed a privilege to have an open invitation to “come boldly to the throne of grace.”
Pray and ask God to teach you how to hear His voice. Pray, Pause, and Wait until you feel Christ’s strength and peace flowing through your mind, body, and soul. Once you experience the power of God’s peace permeating your entire being, you will possess experiential knowledge of the greatness of our Heavenly Father!
Make God Your First Response—Call Him Up and Tell God What You Need
We may feel defeated at the beginning of our prayer, but we will never leave God’s presence without total victory. Prayer gives us 24/7 access to a God who never sleeps. There is no limit on the number of times we can call on Him. One thing is for certain, we will never experience the defeat of an unanswered call with God.
When we feel the need to hear a human voice, there are options available to us. Always make praying out loud a priority [when possible]. While having personal worship incorporate the use of an audio Bible when studying the Scriptures, or use your voice to read the Scriptures out loud. The combination of learning God’s promises and the Biblical stories of His overwhelming love for humanity will provide much encouragement.
Make prayer your first choice when you need to talk to someone. Not only will your relationship with Christ become a priority, but your perspective of receiving a text or automated response will change. Instead of feeling defeated or annoyed, you will smile because you have 24/7 access to our Great God who works out every challenge and leaves the caller feeling spiritually energized!
Prayer: God, we thank You for the privilege of prayer and Your Love Letter of the Holy Bible. We pray for peace, wisdom, and discernment as we navigate through this journey called life. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Gift of a New Heart – Today’s Devotional – December 19, 2023
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
God performs the spiritual transformation of our hearts. The Holy Spirit [the Spirit of God] works within us to change our hearts [our minds] and character into the righteousness of Christ. Still, the human effort of surrender and faithful obedience is the requisite for the Spirit of God to exercise His transforming power within us.
“If you love me, keep my commandments.” —John 14:15
Blended human concepts say we can be half-Christian and half-worldly. Yet, Jesus gives us the simple explanation that loving Him means total obedience to His righteous commands. Every day, we fight an internal battle to receive a new heart. Will we surrender to God or the innate cravings of our carnal hearts and appetites?
Our dilemma: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9
Our thoughts always gravitate toward ourselves. Think deeply about your desires. The human heart [without Christ] naturally desires pleasure. Two areas that we easily succumb to are material treasures and appetite [food and sex]. The desire for tangible possessions and self-seeking gratification is inherent [within us] from birth.
God’s Goal: For Us to Reflect, Reveal, and Resemble Jesus
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” —Ezekiel 36:26
The power of God supersedes all hereditary traits, learned behaviors, habits, and addictions. With our measure of faith, we accept Christ as our Savior. The Bible teaches us about the righteousness we must possess. By studying Christ’s life in the Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] we learn by His example the character and lifestyle required for eternal life.
As followers of Christ, God expects us to represent and reveal the Righteousness of Christ in our behaviors, attitudes, and spoken words.
“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Deuteronomy 6:5
Our love for God is the catalyst for letting go of relationships with unbelievers and all worldly pleasures and practices that fail to reflect a life of holiness. The human effort of daily prayer of surrender invites the Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual strength required for the transformation of our hearts.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5
Loving God includes trusting Him with our earthly lives because He is the only One who can lead us into eternal life. His promise to give us a new heart also includes receiving the spiritual power to overcome and be victorious over all of our carnal desires!
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the strength to surrender and to faithfully obey You. We desire new hearts. Help us to become the people You created us to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Pursuing Christ Through Personal Worship Today’s Devotional December 11, 2023
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6
Our most important time with God is through our daily personal worship. The time spent with God in prayer and Bible study provides the life-sustaining spiritual nourishment that feeds and replenishes our souls. Created in the image of God, our souls are connected to Him. We cannot fill the emptiness of our souls without God.
Jesus tells us to separate ourselves because worship places us in God’s Holy presence. Quiet solitude frees us from interruptions and distractions allowing us to focus on our intimate relationship with Christ. Worship is a one-to-one interaction between us and God. During personal worship, we surrender our will, and with faith, we renew our daily covenant with Christ to follow Him.
Our intentional and unrushed time with God places us in a posture of humility and demonstrates our faith in His faithfulness. The more time we spend in worship the greater the blessing we receive. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual revitalization and restoration that our minds, souls, and bodies rely on to be victorious overcomers through Christ.
“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” —Psalm 54:4
To remain faithful in perilous times, it’s best if we have daily worship in the morning and evening. To commune with God is to receive life-sustaining strength, peace, joy, and happiness. Do you know Christians who always have joyful expressions on their face? They are spending time with God which gives them confidence even when going through trials and tribulations.
The Holy Spirit provides us with supernatural strength, clarity, wisdom, and guidance. No longer do we possess a sense of dread when facing our activities of daily life. Not only do we receive the spiritually energizing power to effectively achieve our daily tasks, but we remain energized until the completion of our daily goals.
Worship is more than praying and listening to inspirational music. We pray for Divine wisdom before we diligently study the Holy Scriptures because we need the Holy Spirit to provide us with the only accurate definition of God’s written Words of Truth. Spiritual discernment is a gift from the Holy Spirit that prevents us from embracing false or convoluted teachings based on another person’s interpretation.
Studying the Scriptures imparts us with the vital knowledge of God’s promises. When hardships arise, instead of fear, anxiety, or stress, we enjoy God’s greatest blessings of peace, joy, and restoration. The Bible contains God’s Righteous precepts and commands which keep us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. The word of God also provides us with an understanding of the perilous times we live in.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26
Worship is for the weak. Although our weaknesses differ, every believer is weak in some area of their lives due to our inherited carnal hearts that gravitate toward pleasing ourselves. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit rescues us by giving us the spiritual wisdom and discernment needed to recognize internal and external spiritual warfare. And He also gives us the strength to walk away from temptation.
When facing temptation or life’s dilemmas, whisper a prayer for help. Effectual prayer is our greatest weapon against Satan. Self-reliance is abated when we ask for the Divine reinforcement of the Holy Spirit. We desperately need to make prayer our first response so we do not succumb to the raging internal battle of satisfying our heart’s carnal desires.
The benefits of daily worship are endless, but most importantly, we show honor, reverence, and respect for our Awesome Heavenly Father. Aligning ourselves with His perfect will demonstrates our faithful obedience. Worship allows us to receive spiritual growth and the transformation of our mind, character, and personality.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law (Galatians 5 22-23). And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).
From consistently staying in the presence of God, we are changed into the likeness of Christ’s Character. Our character and personality begin to align with the Fruit of the Spirit, and our hearts overflow with the love of God as demonstrated by a gentle and loving spirit.
“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3
From our time with God, our spiritual insight deepens and God reveals great and mighty things that we do not know. Our heightened awareness includes a greater appreciation for God’s love, grace, and abundant mercies. Instead of relying on our feelings when challenges arise, we remain steadfast because we trust in the faithfulness of God’s Character.
Personal worship prepares us for Eternal life where we will freely worship God with pure hearts in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth.
Prayer: God, we thank You for the privilege of boldly approaching Your Throne to receive grace in our time of need which is every day. We surrender ourselves completely to You and ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Investing in Your Future with Christ – Today’s Devotional – December 7, 2023
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 1:2
Although the world associates material wealth with prosperity, God defines prosperity as having an intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus, and receiving the daily transforming power of the Holy Spirit for one’s character to be changed into the likeness of Christ. To live a prosperous life has nothing to do with the accumulation of wealth!
Prosperity is the abundance of life given to us by God and requires human effort and Divine Intervention. It is the Holy Spirit who imparts the Divine power and wisdom necessary for our souls to prosper. Transformation is not passive, we must surrender and faithfully obey to actively participate in our spiritual growth and transformation.
The preparation required to receive our reward of a heavenly life with Christ occurs every day in our earthly lives. The Voice of God is heard through the Scriptures. We pray for daily spiritual guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit to prevent our drive to follow our inclinations [which are always in opposition to God].
The believer who attempts to live on human effort alone cannot maintain their earthly spiritual walk with God. Nor can they achieve optimal mental, emotional, and physical health according to God’s Righteous Standards.
Steps for Investing in Your Future with Christ
Spiritual Health: Nurturing our souls requires human cooperation with the Holy Spirit who transforms our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ.
Our morning prayer includes the request for the power, presence, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to guide us throughout our activities for the given day. We are responsible for keeping the channel of communication open between heaven and earth by maintaining a life of continuous prayer, praise, and worship.
Without knowledge of Biblical principles and godly wisdom, our spiritual perception is nonexistent. Studying and obeying the Scriptures provides us with the sustenance to live as victorious overcomers. Thankfully, we have the Bible as our Spiritual Roadmap which instructs us in every aspect of life. In the Scriptures, God has given us the righteous standards that He expects us to obey.
Our responsibility in God’s Divine plan is to surrender to His will and remain faithful and obedient as we strive for holiness.
Everything we need to know about God and living holy is spoken as the plain Truth in the Bible. There is no guesswork in serving God. Through the Scriptures and our conscience, the Holy Spirit speaks to us providing the daily instructions to keep us on the Path of Righteousness.
Yes, we will always face temptations, still maintaining an optimal level of spiritual health is not a challenge because we have the Divine Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit who is just a prayer away.
Knowing our Status in Christ and Living According to the Word of God
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…” —1 Corinthians 6:19
Mental and Emotional Health—We entrust our minds to those who are not in alignment with God. The prevailing theories that exist in the Mental/Behavioral Health arena are in direct opposition to the Scriptures. The forgiveness of those who abused, mistreated, betrayed, and abandoned you is a spiritual area of major conflict in the Christian community.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32
Psychologists and therapists tell us it takes time to process forgiveness. Since we are not promised tomorrow, the best option is to forgive our enemies by praying for them every day that they will accept Christ as their personal Savior. Praying for others changes our perception—we begin to view life through the eyes of Christ.
Stop listening to other people who are not responsible for your destiny. Always obey God! We know that God says we must forgive to be forgiven by Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor, so we trust and obey Him and move forward.
“Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” —Jeremiah 17:14, NIV
Like the prophet Jeremiah, pray and ask Dr. Jesus to heal your mind, body, and soul. No, we cannot change our past atrocities but Jesus is willing to make us well. And when He heals there are no residual mental or emotional scars.
Once we rid ourselves of grudges and forgive those who have dealt with us treacherously, we will receive our healing through the mighty power of Christ Jesus! Reinforce your faith by studying the Bible. The Scriptures redirect our focus from ourselves to Christ. By memorizing Bible stories and God’s promises, we receive hope to live abundant prosperous lives.
Through the Divine power of the Holy Spirit, we receive restoration and the supernatural strength to function beyond our normal abilities. Instead of hurtful memories, Yehovah Rapha [our Healer] will perform a clean sweep and give us the strength to move forward into the New Beginnings of a brighter future.
Our Physical Health impacts our spiritual, mental, and emotional health. If our bodies are unhealthy from the intentional input of fast food high-calorie, sugary, non-nutritional junk foods then every aspect of our minds and bodies is suffering.
Although the focus of the medical community remains on patients who are overweight, some individuals have a normal body weight, yet, their blood work reveals hidden abnormal diagnoses.
The homeostasis that Jesus created our minds and bodies to possess does not exist without the intake of health-sustaining food and exercise. Although many prefer the gym, walking outside in nature is the best exercise.
When our bodies and minds are sluggish from disease-producing foods and the lack of physical inactivity, we will not have an interest in studying the Scriptures or doing our part to receive spiritual growth and transformation.
“When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony [overeating]. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.” —Proverbs 23:1-3
You are what you eat! Satan uses appetite to enslave many believers. They focus on the pleasure of satisfying their tastebuds which pull us into the pride of life. Appetite is a vice when uncontrolled and develops into the worst addiction!
The scavengers of the earth were created to clean the debris of dead animals. The pig, warthog, hyenas, vultures, crab, shrimp, and lobsters are just a few examples of animal cleaners who will eat everything they can swallow. Sadly many believers think nothing of eating scavenger animals that society has deemed as gourmet delicacies.
Invest in your health: God’s instructions in Leviticus on clean and unclean food are not outdated.
“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.” —Proverbs 26:2
The Food and Drug Administration’s warnings on food-borne diseases and contamination are at the highest peak in the history of humanity. We live in a society where Instant Gratification rules. But the innate cravings for what we desire to be available immediately have penalties—internal damage to our mental, emotional, and physical health.
We trust the second-hand preparation of our foods and drinks to others. We eagerly order processed foods prepared behind closed doors or assume the preparer’s hygiene is as meticulous as our hygienic habits. There is a problem with empowering strangers to handle the most important aspect of our God-given responsibility—caring for our minds, bodies, and souls using godly wisdom.
Improper handwashing is the number one cause of disease transmission. Unless a child is trained to practice personal hygiene principles, they live with compromised standards as an adult. Food-grade gloves do not prevent pathogens [disease-causing organisms] from invading food and drinks.
Change your schedule, cease buying processed foods, incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, and clean fish and meat into your diet, and [learn to] prepare and cook your meals.
Pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit to guide your food choices and give you an in-depth understanding of God’s health principles. An unclean diet consists of more than food intake. Let go of all profane people, programs, and habits that introduce the degradation of sin into your temple.
Invest in your Destiny: The Divine Spirit of God will not enter an unclean and unholy person who intentionally abuses themselves through pride of appetite, laziness, and sinful pleasures.
The Excellence of Wisdom
“All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands And right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. —Proverbs 8:8-11
Invest in your heavenly future: Live as one who is forgiven. Acknowledge that your mind and body are the temple in which the Holy Spirit resides and ensure that your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health are truly prospering. In our earthly lives, God has allowed us to learn and practice the righteous principles that prepare us for the transition from earth to heaven when Jesus comes again.
Prayer: God, we pray for spiritual wisdom as we invest in our future to gain and maintain optimal health. Thank You for the privilege of being created in Your image. We pray for a closer relationship with Christ. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
God Reveals His Omnipotence to Job – Today’s Devotional – December 5, 2023
Most companies receive hundreds of CVs and resumes for a given position, but the use of software based on keywords eliminates the unqualified applicants. Still, human eyes must read the remaining submissions to determine the applicant’s competency, stability, and potential to develop or embrace the innovative strategies required to propel the company forward into a highly competitive business arena.
Imagine being asked to provide three character references and responding with “I can validate my own character.” What would the hiring manager think?
Job Defends His Integrity
Most are familiar with Job’s story—the profound loss of his wealth, and children, and the awful condition of painful boils. As if that was not enough to contend with, “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die?’ ” (Job 2:9).
Although many believers have experienced suffering none usually compares to the profound loss and suffering of Job. Yes, Job lived a sinless life, even God considered him to be upright. Yet Job needed to learn a couple of lessons—God’s Omniscience [knowledge] and Omnipotence [power] are perfect and one’s integrity and righteousness do not prevent extreme suffering.
The misconception that suffering only results from a person’s disobedience to God or from hidden wicked behaviors was a prevailing thought in biblical times which explains why his friends blamed Job for his adversity.
Adversity presents itself in two time periods, short-term and long-term. We usually have enough faith in God to endure trials and tribulations that God quickly resolves, but the challenges that seem to last forever reveal whether or not our faith will fail or flourish.
In chapter two, Job rebukes his wife for telling him to curse God and die, “But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10). Job’s three friends came to mourn and comfort him for seven days and nights, yet “…no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great” (Job 2:13).
“After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth” (Job 3:1). At this point, Job’s friend Eliphaz tells him that he is being chastened [disciplined, punished] by God. “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty” (Job 5:17).
In chapter six, Job’s human weakness is exposed as his attention turns from God to himself. Job’s response, “What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?” (Job 6:11). Job represents you and me and the weakness of the human heart when our emotions override God’s love. When our hardships continue, we feel that God has abandoned us in our greatest crucibles of suffering.
“My friends scorn me; My eyes pour our tears to God” (Job 16:20). “My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.” (Job 17:1)
As time progresses, and Job is still suffering, his three friends accuse him of hidden sins, folly, and wickedness. They urge him to repent so God will redeem and rescue him from a well-deserved punishment. “Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck me! Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?” (Job 19:21-22).
Despite the misjudgment from his friends, Job proclaims hope in God, ” For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).
As we forward to the 23rd chapter, the passing of time reveals that Job is experiencing the full run of human emotions. Now he desires to contend or assert his position in a discussion with God.
“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.” —Job 23:2-5
Normal human behavior is predictable! When our intense sufferings do not cease according to our expectations or the death of a family member occurs, not only do we begin to doubt God’s love but we also desire to contend with God through negotiation to end the suffering.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10
Although God reveals His love by continually sustaining our lives through suffering, our focus remains on ourselves. We begin to lose hope, boldly questioning God, How long? Why did God allow this to happen? or, God, tell me what I need to do?
“Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!” —Job 31:35
Jobs suffering continues and in chapter 31, he becomes impatient and is ready for God to answer his prayers for relief. Still, we cannot rush God! Will we become angry with God or despondent because He is silent? Only the steadfast who hold onto their faith by relying on the power of God and trusting His perfect will and plans never lose hope.
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…’ ” —2 Corinthians 12:9
Through continuous prayers, we receive strength and the ability to go forward from the Holy Spirit who reminds us of God’s faithfulness. In our personal times of tears and worship, God reveals His love by giving us spiritual comfort. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We must remain faithful to God.
Although we do not have an exact timeframe for Job’s suffering, we can safely conclude that from Chapter 1 to Chapter 38 when God answered Job that he suffered for a long time. Yet nowhere do we read that Job and his wife were destitute, hungry, or homeless.
In chapters 38-41, the Lord God reveals His Omnipotence and begins questioning Job like the Prosecutor he addressed God to be in chapter 31.
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” —Joshua 38:1-3
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!” —Joshua 38:4-5
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak. I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’ My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I retract my words, and I repent in dust and ashes…” —Job 42:4-6
Reflection: Believers, who do we think we are? Many of us have a sense of entitlement leading us to believe that we deserve God’s blessings just because we say, Lord, Lord. Angels bow and cover their faces with their wings when worshiping our Heavenly Father. We must learn to serve God in humility, surrender, and reverence.
God deserves first place in our lives. He deserves our full attention, love, faith, obedience, and loyalty. The book of Job is an invitation to surrender and come to Jesus by recognizing that He is Omnipotent, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
Like Job, our faith will be severely tested! The time will arise in every believer’s life as if we feel that God is crushing us. We will feel as if we cannot endure another day of suffering. Yet God is always faithful! Through our suffering, God is drawing us nearer to Him. We must come to understand the magnitude of His Righteousness and Holiness.
“…Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” —Job 41:10-11
Prayer: God, we repent for the sins of presumption and irreverence. We ask You to give us the spiritual insight to understand Your love and Righteousness. Teach us to be holy. We thank You for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy Name, Amen.
Surrendering to God Saves Our Lives – Today’s Devotional – December 4, 2023
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’ ” —Matthew 16:24, NLT
Taking up our cross is defined by surrendering our will to God and trusting His thoughts, ways, and plans for our lives. It is not a middle-of-the-road life filled with compromises based on our heart’s desires. As Christ prayed daily to receive the revelation of God’s will for His life, we also pray a daily prayer of surrender asking God to reveal His will through the Holy Spirit.
Surrender is a righteous character trait that requires a sacrificial love for God and the humility of a little child. Surrender determines whether or not you are in the right standing with God. Our willingness to surrender and obey God is demonstrated through the type of prayers we pray and the lifestyle we live.
Never Underrate the Importance of Surrender! Anything outside of relinquishing our desires to God breaches one’s relationship with Christ. Disobedience always separates us from God.
Reflection: How do your character, habits, and lifestyles compare with God’s great moral standard of righteousness?
“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.” —1 John 3:7, ESV
The inheritance of a carnal heart places us at a disadvantage—we cannot judge ourselves. There must be diligent searching of the Scriptures which identify our sins that have been offensive to God, which have dishonored His name, quenched the power of the Holy Spirit, and separated us from our first love for Christ.
We rate our sins on a scale of little to big to great. Yet, to God, all sin is the transgression of His laws of righteousness and disobedience against Him. Yes, God takes it personally when we sin against Him. And rightfully so, God gave us His only Son, Jesus Christ to fulfill the Plan of Salvation. Jesus surrendered fully to the will of His Father by sacrificing His life and suffering an agonizing death on Calvary’s cross to redeem us from the second death which is the penalty of sin.
Our refusal to surrender has its roots in the sin of unbelief—we do not trust God. The heart void of love and trust can never surrender. The internal conflict we face results in contempt for God’s Truth, succumbing to the temptations of worldliness, self-reliance, over-indulgence, pride, selfishness, false doctrines, and immorality. Our lifestyles reveal the true status of our faith in God.
We cannot save ourselves. The work of overcoming is the work of a lifetime which requires human effort and Divine Intervention. Victory is assured through our love, humility, surrender, faith, and obedience. We must put forth the effort to cooperate with the Power of the Holy Spirit to receive the conviction and Divine instructions needed for a daily spiritual transformation.
Our appreciation of Christ’s gift is demonstrated by giving Him our love and loyalty as we strive to live holy and acceptable lives. We separate ourselves from the worldviews by studying the Scriptures and embracing God’s Biblical views. Through daily surrender, we are preparing our earthly lives for the promise of eternal life.
How will we stand before God, the Righteous Judge? The choice is ours to make. God has given us the free will to decide our final destiny. Yes, God indeed is a Loving, Fair, and Righteous Judge.
Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for our failure to surrender. We admit that we have an issue with our hearts, we do not love You as we should. We make a covenant from this day forward to surrender all to You. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
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